Doorknob spindle releasing means



April l5, 1952 R. C. CERF, JR

DOORKNOB SPINDLE RELEASING MEANS 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed Dec. 30, 1948 FIG. 4

FIG. 5.

FIG. 6.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 R. c. CERF, JR 2,593,254

DOORKNOB SPINDLE RELESING MEANS Filed DSC. 30, 1948 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 D FlG. 9.

FIG. 8.

` INVENTOR To ROBERT CERF JR.

BYV Mv ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 nooRKnoB SPINDLE RELEASING MEANS Robert C. Cerf, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Hollymade Hardware Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 30, 1948, Serial No. 68.215

2 Claims. (Cl. 292-352) t This invention relates to a door knob lock and latch set with inside turn button spindle-locking means for the outside knob, and in particular to door knob spindle releasing means.

The general object is to provide in the lock set of the kind described means for easily removing the inside and outside knobs and spindles to facilitate the proper installation of the lock set on a door but which means, after the mounting of the lkleyllif i' shaft used to lift the key of Figure 15.

In thepreferred form of my invention shown in Figures 1 to 16, the lock and latch set consists of a body 20 whiohis generally cylindrical in shape and is assembled from die-'cast metal half portions designated 2| for the outside half portion and 22 for the inside half portion. these half portions being'assembled as a hollow unitary body 211 `by means of the assembly screws 23 whose threaded ends engagethreaded holes 24 in the set on the door, become inaccessible for removal l0 outside half portion 2|, the corresponding unof the outside knob and spindle except by access threaded holes 25 in the inside half portion 22 from the inside of the door. being countersunk at 26 to receive the heads 21 These and other objects are attained by my of the assembly screws 23, In the drawings, the invention which will be understood ,from the folleft hand knob containing the key-actuated cylinlowing description, reference being made to the l5 der lock and the appurtenances thereto are reaccompanying drawings in which: ferred to as outside and the right hand knob Figure 1 is a plan elevational view partly in containing theturn button and the appurtenances section of a preferred form of my lock and latch thereto are referredto as inside," this referring set as mounted on a door, with portions broken to the door mounting, for example, such as an away to better showthe structure; 2O entrance house door The outside half portion A .Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the 2| is provided with an outwardly extending elonline 2-2 of Figure 1; gated axial bearing sleeve 29 adapted for the Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the mounting therein of the outside tubular spindle line 3-3 of Figure 1; 3U upon the end of which the outside knob 3| Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the 25 is fastened. The inside half portion 22 is also line 4 -4 of Figure 1; I provided with an elongated axial bearing sleeve `-.Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken onthe 32 extending from the body 20, in which is line 5--5'of Figure 1; i mounted for rotation the inside tubular spindle Figure 6 is a cross-sectionalview taken on the 33 on the end of which is mounted the inside line 6-'6 of Figure 1;` 30 knob 34. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the The latch bolt retractor 40 consists of a genline 1--1 of Figure 1; erally rectangular frame having a thrust parti- Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken tion wall 4| and opposed edges or fingers 42 at on the line 8-8 of Figure 2, with parts shown I the end of the frame opposite said partition wall in elevation and portions brokenaway to better e5 4|, said lingers being adapted to engage the latch dSClOSe the Structure; bar 54 by means of the end lugs 56 on 'the end Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view partly thereof. The retractor 40 is adapted to reciproin elevation taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 2; cate within the hollow body 2|), being provided Figure 10 is a perspective view of the spindle with guide members`43 formed in the interior of `fOl the Outside knOb; .40 the outside half portion 2|. The retractor 40 is 1,1 Figure 11 iS a Partial View in perspective ShOW- also arranged to slide on the retractor pin 44 mathe inside knob assembly: which is held at one end between the half por- Figure 12 is a disassembly view of the key tions 2| and 22 in the half cylindrical grooves 45 .actuated shaft and rollback together with the provided in the pin groove bosses 46.l A coil com- QuSFe `Spindle locking means, the Darts being 45 pression spring 41 is interposed between the side `-shown in perspective; y of thev bosses 48 and the underside of the thrust Fig-ure 13 is a perspective view of the turn but partition wall 4|, thus normally forcing the fin- Ou locking sleeve; gers 42 toward the window 49 in the body 20 Iat r Figure 14 is a perspective view oi. the spring which position the latch bar unit 50 is attached, lachbpltuniti 50 as will be described. ""Fig'u'lel5 is aside elevational view of the re- The spring biased latch unit 50 consists gen- .tanenkey used to rotatably hold the outside erally of a cylindrical housing 5| which is adapted Slfle'llvthe body; `to t in a hole drilled from the edge of the door Figure 1 6 is a perspective View of the retainer 55 at right angles tothe main body mounting hole inthedoor, the unit being held by the ilush plate 52 which is countersunk and attached to the edge of the door by screws (not shown) in the holes 59. The latch bolt 53 normally protrudes through an opening in the flush plate, the latch bolt being connected to the latch bar 54 which extends through the other or rear end closure 55. The latch bar 54 is provided with end lugs 56 which, as described above, are engaged by the fingers 42 of the retractor. The attaching tabs 51 extending from the end closure 55 are formed to slide under the margins of the window 49 in the body 29, the edge of the cylindrical housing 5I of the latch unit being arranged to press on the opposite or outside surface ofthe' margins of the window 49. The latch unit 50 is thus sllidinglyattached to the body 29 at the window 49 so that its longitudinal position relative to the cylindrical main body may be adjusted by sliding it along the marginal edge of the window. The coil spring 58 is provided wit-hin the cylindrical housing 5I abutting the end closure 55 and the inside end of the latch bolt 53; thus normally tending to' push the latch bolt outwardly.

' The outside tubular spindle 30 is provided with a circumferential keying slot 69 which is adapted to be engaged by the retainer key 6I which is held in the retainer key slot 35 of the bearing sleeve 29 by the hairpin spring 36 which passes through the hole 62, the spring being held to the body in a groove 93 therein by the screw 64.

The retainer key 0I maybe manually retracted, when accessible, to release the outside spindle 30. When it is not' accessible for manual operation, for example, when the set is installed in a door with the clamping plate and rosette affixed, the retainer key 6I mayobe retracted from the slot 60 to release the spindle 30 by means of the retainer key shaft 90 which extends from the inside end face |39 of the-body 20 to the opposite side adjacent' the retainer key boss 66. The'shaft 68 is provided on one end with a screw driver slot 09, and on the other end with an eccentric pivot pin 10 which is adapted to engage the elongated hole 1I in the retainer key 6I (Figure 15). The shaft 68 is held in place in the hole by' riveting the end of the eccentric pivot 10 over a washer 12 after the parts are assembled. `By turning the shaft 98 with a screw driver, the eccentric pivot 10 retracts the retainer key' 6I to release the outside spindle, the retainer key being normally held in the keying slot E0 of the spindle and in the retainer key slot 35 of the outside bearing sleeve 29 by the hairpin spring 36.

The outside knob 3| consists of a knob body 'I6 having a rim portion 11 'and a coaxial hub 18 which is connected to the rim portion by the disk 19 disposed inwardly from the rear face of the knob, and is provided on its rear side with a rim 80 deiining the large opening on the rear face of the knob which is closed by the closure shell member 0I. The main portion of the knob is covered by a shell spun or otherwise formed over the knob body to form the usual ellipsodal door knob whose front face is provided with an opening 83 coinciding with the opening of the hub 18 where it abuts the front inside face of the knob, the margin of the shell aroundI the hole being turned in against the inside wall of said hubl The outside spindle is attached to the face of the knob disk 19 by attachingears 84 turned outwardly from the periphery of the spindle, holes 85 being provided therein for the screws 86 which are threaded into corresponding threaded holes 81 in the disk. The spindle is fitted over the extension 88 of the hub 18' and two slots'89 and 89A are provided 180 apart to alternatively hold the pin chamber 90 of the pin tumbler lock 9|. The slot 92 in the lock cylinder 93 for a removable cylinder operative key, is exposed at the opening 83 on the front face of the outside knob 3|. When it is desired to reverse the position o the key slot 02 so that the unnotched side of the key will be on the lower side, for example, the Spindle 30 is disconnected from the disk 19 by removing the screws 8S, following which the knob is turned through and again attached to the ears 8s of the spindle with the alternative slot 89A engaging the pin chamber, and with the key slot in reversed position.

The inner end of the lock cylinder` 93 is provided with' a cap 94 which is provided with a 'noncircular hole 95 which makes operative connection through the tongue 99 with the shaft for the key actuated semi-cylindrical rollback |0I, the said shaft being centered axially Within the outside tubular spindle 30 by the washer 90 inside the collar 99 adjacentV the tongue 99, and b-y the locking tab disk |00 rotatably mounted upon lthe Shaft 91 adjacent the rollback I0 I, said rollback extending from theV rollback disk |02 which is non-rotatably attached to the end of the shaft 91, for example, by a tongue |03, which is held rigidly in the corresponding hole |04 in the rollback disk |02.v A spacer member |05 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 91 between the disk |00 and the washer 9B, and a compression coil spring |06 is disposed around the shaft between said washer 90 and spacer |05. 'Ihe locking tabdisk |00 is provided with a peripherally extending locking' tab |01y and is conveniently provided with an aligning tab |08 for the purposes described below.

The outside spindle 30 is provided at its' unattached end with a rollback I I0 which is a semicylindrical end of the tubular spindle, the longitudinal edges III being adapted to press, when the outside knob is turned, alternatively, upon the thrust partition wall 5I of the retractor 40 to thereby move the retrac'torl and the latch bolt which is operatively attached thereto. In order to permit the necessary rotation of the outside knob 3|, a portion of the spindle 30 between the rollback I I0 and the retainer key slot 60, approximately one-half the circumference is out away to avoid interference with the locking tab |01 when this tab is not being depressed by the turn button and its associated parts, that is, when the outside knob 3| is free to be turned' to operate the latch.

The insideV knob 34 is attached to the inside tubular spindle 33, the spindle extending through the knob to the front face thereof to define an opening II5 in which the turn button IIB is mounted. The knob is provided with'a nish hub I1 extending toward the body 20 and telescoping over a portion of the spindle 33, the end abutting the end of the inside bearing sleeve 32. The spindle 33 is provided with a circumferential retainer key slot IIB which extends approximately one-half the circumference of the spindle'to permit the turning of the spindle for' a; sufficient amount to fully move the retractor 40 by means of the rollback II9 at the end of the spindle 33. This rollback II9 at the end of the .spindle 33 consists of a short segment of the 'tubular spindle with longitudinal edges |20 arranged to 'alternatively press upon the thrust partition'wall 4I. of the retractor 40, one edge being effective when the knob 34 is turned in one .direction'andthe other edge when the knob is turned the opposite direction, in either case to move theretractcr and withdraw the latch bolt 53. The retainer key |22 nts in the retainer key slot ||8 and in the retainer key slot' |2| in the sleeve 32 of the body 20.- `The retainer key |22 is normally held down in place by a hairpin spring 65 which is attached at one end to the end ofthe cylindrical body in the groove |23 by the screw |24. The turn button I I6 is connected to the spindle locking sleeve |21 by the bayonet bar |28 whose inner end is swivel connected at |29 to the spindle locking sleeve |21. The 'spindle locking sleeve |21 in its mid-portion is cutaway, leaving a segment |33 of about one-third of the cylinder, to avoid nterierence with the reciprocatory movement of the retractor 60. The other end of the locking sleeve |21 is provided with a circumferential opening -I 30 on one side for the locking tab |01 and on the opposite side ,with a circumferential opening |3I for thealigning tab |08.` An elongated slot |32 is provided in the segment |33 of the locking sleeve |21 through which passes the retractor guide pin 44.

The bayonet bar |28 connecting the turn button I6 and the locking sleeve |21 is provided with a bayonet pin |35 extending outwardly from the I |30 presses the locking tab |01 into the locking groove |39 in the outside spindle 30, this locking groove being on the side of the cylinder opposite the rollback ||0. I'he locking tab |01 also engages the groove |40 in the outside bearing sleeve 29, thus preventing rotation of the spindle 30 relative to the bearing sleeve 29. The turn button ||6 is thus pressed inwardly and rotated in order to engage the bayonet pin tab |35 in the 'bayonet groove |36 and thereby hold the locking sleeve |21 against the locking tab |01, locking the outside knob against rotation. The inside knob. because of the swivel connection at I 29, may be rotated without releasing the turnbutton ||6, thus the retractor and the latch bolt may be operated from the inside knob Without effecting the locked condition of the outside knob.

'I'he latch may also be retracted by the use of the removable pocket key K which operates the lock cylinder 93, which in turn is operatively connected through the shaft 91 to the rollback |0I. This rollback |0| actuates the retractor 40 independently of the rollbacks ||0 and ||9 on the outside spindle 30 and the inside spindle 33, and irrespective of the position of the turn button |6, thus permitting the withdrawal of the latch bolt at any time by the key K.

The body 20 is arranged to be positioned centrally in the mounting hole in the door D by means of the attached clamping disk |44 and the removable clamping disk |45 disposed respectively on the outside and inside of the door. An opening |46 is provided in the clamping disk |45 for the inside bearing sleeve 32 and a window |41 is also provided to give access to the hairpin spring 65 holding the retainer key |22. The attached clamping disk |44 is also provided with an opening |43l for the outside bearing sleeve 29. The position of the att-ached clamping disk |44 relative to the outside -face |48 of the body 20 is adjustable from the inside face |49 of the body 20 by the long headed screws |50 which extend through holes |5| in the inside half body portion 22 and in threaded holes |52 lin the outside half body portion 2|, thickening bosses |53 preferably being provided on the face |40. The ends of the long headed screws |55 are rotatably mounted in holes |54 in the attached clamping disk |44, the ends being riveted over washers |55 so that the screws are rotatable.' By turning the long headed screwsv |50 from the inside face |49 oi' the body 20, the position of the attached clamping disk |44 may be adjusted to correspond to the thick ness .of the door on which the set is to be mount-.- edeither before or after the body 20 is placed=in the hole, following which the removable clamp disk |45 is attached by two or more screws |56 threaded into the face |48 of the inside half body portion 22, the heads of the screws |53 holding Vthe disk, thus clamping .the marginal edges of the disks against the margins around the mounting hole in the door. l 'A rosette |58 having an outwardly extending nish hub |59V is preferably non-removably attached to the peripheral edge of the attached `clamping disk |44. by crimped-over edges |60 as shown for example particularly in Figures 6 and 8. The hub |59 `is adapted .to cover the joint between the knob closure member 0| and the outside bearingsleeve 29', thus securely hiding all screws and vretainer keys, so that theoutside knob and spindle may not be tampered with.

`An inside rosette |52 having a turned-over peripheral rim |63 is adapted to frictionally enga-ge the peripheral edge of the removable clamping disk |45, the rosette being provided with a central opening |64 for the inside bearing sleeve 32, and having a nish hub |65 extending toward the inside knob 34 and covering the joint between the finish hub ||1 of said inside knob 34 and the inside bearing sleeve 32.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent. The rigid die-cast body and the integral elongated bearing sleeves for the knob spindles provide a durable lock set in which the knobs and spindles do not become loose and Wobbly after long use. The set is adapted to be used upon doors of varying thicknesses, with the protrusion of the knobs being equalized on the. two sides of the door. The latch bolt is independently retracted through a common retractor by the turning of either knob in either direction and also by means of a removable key turned in either direction. The outside knob may be xed through the inside turn button against rotation so that entry m-ay not be effected without the use of a proper key'. This outside knob locking is unaffected by the subsequent use of the inside knob for retraeting the bolt, and is also unaffected by the use of the removable key, the outside knob continuing to be locked against rotation after the key is removed. The outside knob is not released by pushing in the latch bolt, as in closing the door. The key slot for the removable key is reversible in position so that the lock may be properly positioned on either right or left hand doors and under the same circumstances the latch bolt unit may be reversed in position through its tongue and groove connection with the retractor. The labor required for installation of my lock and latch set is reduced to a lminimum by the provision of a cylindrical body which is mounted in a bored hole through the door with the latch bolt unit being mounted in another drilled hole from 7 the edge of the door at right angles to the` main mounting hole.

I claim.:

1. In a door latch mechanism having separate inside and outside tubular spindles upon which inside and outside knobs are mounted respectively, with retractor means for a spring biased latch bolt operable by the inner ends of said spindles; a hollow. cylindricalY retractor body adapted to be mounted in a bored hole in a door, said body having an outside sleeve bearing having a. slot therein, an outside spindle rotatably mounted in said hearing sleeve and having a slot in registration with the slot in the bearingisleeve, a. spring biased retainer key extending into said slots' to hold said spindle against longitudinal movement and adapted to be retra'cted'to release said spindle, said retainer key having a slot there-,- in, a retainer key releasing means adapted to be accessible from the inside of a door, said releas-v ing means including a shaft extending from the inside end through said body, said shaft having an eccentric pin at its outer end engaging the slot in said retainer key anda slotin its inner end adapted to be engaged by a tool for rotating the 'shaft to retract the retainer key in the slot in the bearing sleeve. i

2. In a door latch mechanism having separate inside and outside tubular spindles upon which inside and outside knobsl are mounted respectively, with retractor means for a spring biased latch bolt operable by the inner ends of said spindles; a hollow cylindrical retractor body adapted to be 8 mounted ina bored; hole in a door. said body having an outside sleevel bea-ring having a slot therein, an outside spindlevrotatably mounted in said bearing sleeve and having a slot in registration, with the slot in the bearing sleeve, a spring biased retainer key extending into said slots to hold said spindle against longitudinal movement and adapted to be retracted to release said spindle. said retainer key having a slot therein, a retainer key releasing means adapted to be accessible from the inside of a door, said releasing means including a shaft extending from the inside end through said body. said shaft having an eccentric pin at its outer end engaging the slot. in said` retainer key and means atv the inner end of said shaft accessible,- after removal of said inside spindle for manuallyturning said shaft to retract said retainer key from said outside spindle.`

ROBERT' C. CER-F', Je.

REFERENCES CITED y The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '769,769 Phelps Sept. 13, 1904 965,519 Hill July 26. 1910 1,991,031 Schlage Feb. 12, 1935 2,008,405 Schlage July 16, 1935 2,676,125 Grumsrud Apr. 6, 1937 2,264,239 Hirsh Nov. 25, 1941 

